T-38 Talon crashes in US, pilots injured

A jet trainer crashed near a US Air Force base runway in the state of Texas Friday, injuring two pilots aboard, local media reported.

The incident happened at Sheppard Air Force Base in north Texas around 7 am CST Friday, The Times Record News in Wichita Falls reported. The crash was allegedly caused by a bird strike.

The two-seat, twin-engine T-38 Talon went down at the edge of a heavily wooded area and burst into flames. Two pilots ejected from their jet before it crashed to the ground and suffered minor injuries.

One of the pilots is American, the other German, the report said. The US pilot was instructing his trainee, a member of the German Air Force, when the crash happened. The two are reported to be part of the base's Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program which trains students from nine NATO countries.

Sheppard Air Force Base is the largest training base and most diversified in Air Education and Training Command. The base is named in honor of Texas Senator John Morris Sheppard, a supporter of military preparations before World War II.


Source: HOUSTON – Xinhua News - 20 July 2013

Photo: The U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon Fighter Training Aircraft crashed at approximately 6:48 am today just south of Sheppard AFB. It carried two people on board, a student pilot and instructor pilot. Both pilots ejected safely and one was taken to United Regional.

The instructor pilot has been identified as Maj. Christopher Thompson and the student pilot at German 1st Lt. Julius Dressbach.

An investigation into the accident is underway. The public is asked to cooperate with military and civilian authorities at the scene. (Photo by deepbluehorizon.blogspot.com)


(4.01.2014)